Atomizer



Patented Nov. 10, 1942 Howard F. Reichenbach, Waterbury, Conn., assignor to Chase Brass & Copper Co. Incorporated, Waterbury, Conn., a corporation Application February 28, 1941, 'Seriali No. 381,036

5 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in atomizers, that is to say, devices by means of which perfume and other liquids may be converted into and projected as a fine spray.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a superior atomizer which is reliable and effective in use and which may be produced at a low cost for manufacture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a superior atomizer having a novel construction and arrangement of parts, whereby a flexible air-pressure bulb may be conveniently organized with a supporting-member in a leakproof manner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a superior atomizer wherein a flexible air-pressure bulb may be freely compressed .or flexed to a maximum degree Afor a given size fof such bulb, to thereby expel a maximum amount of air and hence a maximum amount of lthe .liquid being sprayed.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear to those skilled in the art from lthe present disclosure, this invention includes all features in the said disclosure which are novel over the prior art.

In the accompanying drawing, in which certain modes cf carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation of an atomizer 3 constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top or plan View thereof with the bulb removed;

Fig. 3 is an underside View of the bulb, detached; l

Fig. 4 is a broken view in vertical central-longitudinal section, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 but on a larger scale;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the une 5 5 of Fig. 4;

stance, as glass, synthetic resins, etc., and as is shown particularly well in Fig. 4, the said container is contracted at its upper end to provide an externally-threaded tubular neck I3 communicating with the hollow interior of the container II) proper.

The air-pressure bulb I 2 is formed of any suitable flexible material such, for instance, as rubber, rubber compounds, and the like, and in the instance shown, is provided in the center of its top with an air-inlet port I4. Generally speaking, the bulb I2 may be said to be of inverted cup-shaped form and is provided adjacent its lower end with an inwardly-projecting annular -2 coupling-bead vIii snugly fitting into an outwardly-opening annular coupling-groove I6 formed in the outer face of the upper portion of the headshell II before referred to. Located above the coupling-bead I5, the bulb I2 is formed with an inwardly-projecting llexible annular sealing-lip Il having a flat under face or otherwise conforming to the upper surface of an annular sealing-seat I8.

The sealing-seat I8 above referred to constitutes the outer portion of an otherwise concave top-wall I9 forming an integral part of the headshell II, which latter is of substantially inverted cup-shaped form.

The bulb I2, in addition to being ilexible, is also preferably elastic, and may be formed by molding or any other suitable process so that initially the internal diameter of its annular couplingbead I5 is materially less than the diameter of the coupling-groove Iii in the outer periphery of the head-shell I I. Under these conditions, the lower portion of the bulb I2 requires stretching in order to enter its coupling-bead I5 into the coupling-groove I5, whereby tight engagement between the said elements is assured.

The head-shell I I may be conveniently formed from sheet brass and the concave top-wall I9 thereof is centrally perforated to receive a formed of any suitable material such, for in- 55 burred-over tubular neck 2l] upstanding from a nozzle-head 2I located mainly below the said topwall and within the confines of the lateral bounds of the skirt-portion of the head-shell II, as is clearly shown in Fig. 4. Clamped between the upper face of the nozzle-head 2I and the under face of the top-wall I9 of the head-shell I I, is the inturned flange of the contracted upper portion 22 of an attaching-shell 23 which also includes a relatively-large-diameter depending threaded skirt-portion 2A. The said skirt-portion is internally dimensioned to be threadedly mounted upon the externally-threaded neck I3 of the container I0, before referred to. Preferably, a resilient washer 25 is installed in the upper portion of the skirt-portion 24 in position to be pressed against the upper edge of the neck I3 of the container I0.

Communicating with the space jointly enclosed by the top-wall I9 of the head-'shell II and the bulb I2 is a vertical air-passage 26 formed in the nozzle-head 2| and extending part way down from the upper surface thereof. Rigidly installed in the said nozzle-head with its inner end in communication with the air-passage 2-6 just referred to, is a relatively-small-diarnetered horizontal air-tube 21 which extends radially outwardlyconcentrically through a horizontally-extending liquid-chamber 28 also formed in the nozzlehead 2|.

Surrounding the major portion of the air-tube 21 is a relatively-large-diametered nozzle-tube 29 of sufcient internal dia-meter to accommodate the air-tube 21 with `such freedom as to provide a passage of ring-like form in cross section for the purpose a-s will hereinafter appear. 'I'he inner portion of the nozzle-tube 29 terminates short of the vertical central-longitudinal axis of the nozzie-head 2l and is rigidly secured in the outer portion of the liquid-chamber 28 inthe said nozzie-head by means of solder, or in any other suitable manner. The outer end of the nozzle-tube 29 extends through an aligned perforation in the side wall of the head-shell II and is preferably sealed in said perforation by means of solder or the like. The eXtreme outer end of the said nozzle-tube 29 is located ashort distance beyond the adjacent periphery of the head-shell II and is provided with an inturned annular flange 30 delining a central spray-opening 3| spaced outwardly from but in axial alignment with the outer end of the air-tube 21 before referred to.

Rigidly mounted in the nozzle-head 2 I, in cornmunication with the inner end of the duid-chamber 28 therein, is a downwardly-extending relatively-rigid liquid-tube 32 located centrally of and extending downwardly through the neck I3 of the container Iii. In the particular structure shown, the relatively-rigid liquid-tube 32 has attached to its lower end a exible liquid-tube 33 which is preferably of suflicient length to have its lower end rest upon the bottom of the container I9, as is shown in Fig, 4. The said flexible liquid-tube may be conveniently formed of braided textile material such as cotton, rayon, or the like,

When the parts are all assembled as shown in the drawing and when the container I0 is provided with a body of liquid 34, the user may grasp the entire device in one hand yand by placing a nger over the air-inlet port I4 in the air-pressure bulb I2, the air-space within the said bulb may be sealed. If now the user presses downwardly upon the upper surface of the bulb I2, the entrapped air will be forced through the vertical air-passage 26 in the nozzle-head ZI and will travel thence horizontally outwardly through the horizontal air-tube V21 and ultimately outwardly through the spray-opening 3| in the nozzle-tube 23. The movement of air as just described will cause a suction to be created in the horizontal liquid-chamber 28 of the nozzle-head 2I and also in the parts connected thereto, with the result that the liquid 34 will be drawn upwardly through the flexible liquid-tube 33. The liquid as thus drawn upwardly through the flexible liquid-tube 33 will also pass upwardly through the relativelyrigid liquid-tube 32 into the liquid-chamber 2B of the nozzle-head 2I and thence radially outwardly through the space between the interior of the nozzle-tube 29 and the exterior of the airtube 21. When the liquid passing through the nozzle-tube 29 reaches a point forwardly of the end of the concentric air-tube 21, the said liquid will be broken up into ne particles and will emerge through the spray-opening 3l in a ne mist intermingled with the emerging air.

Due to the construction and arrangement of4 parts, the upper portion of the bulb I2 may be depressed downwardly below the annular sealingseat I8 of the head-shell II into substantially the position represented by the dotted lines 35 in Fig. 4. This construction and arrangement of parts enables the maximum amount of air to be forced outwardly through the air-tube 21 without requiring that the bulb I2 or its equivalent be of excessive size.

Furthermore, when the air-inlet port I4 of the bulbV I 2 is sealed by lthe finger of the user and theupperportionof the said bulb is pressed downwardly, the annular sealing-lip I1 of the said bulb will by either or both the air pressure and flexing of the said bulb, be forced into sealing engagement with the annular sealing-seat I8 of the head-shell I I. In this manner, the tendency of the compressed air to stretch the couplingbead i5 of the bulb I2, and thus eifeoting its escape therearound, is effectively minimized or prevented by the automatic action of the sealing-lip I'I. While it is preferred to organize the structure so that the escape of air from within the bulb I2 is prevented by the nger of the user, nevertheless, should it be desired, the said bulb I2 may be equipped in a manner well known in the art with a suitable check-valve.

By providing the head-shell I I or its equivalent with the lattaching-shell 23 or its equivalent, the threaded or similar connection between the container and the said head-shell may be concealed to thus not require the marring of the otherwise symmetrical appearance of the assembly The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. An latomizer including in combination: a container-unit having an outwardly-opening annular coupling-groove adjacent its upper end and also having an upwardly-facing annular sealingseat located in a plane above the said couplinggroove; a flexible air-pressure bulb of substantially inverted cup-shaped form and having an inwardly-projecting annular coupling-bead seated inthe coupling-groove of the said container-unit; and a iiexible inwardly-projecting annular sealing-lip carried by the said bulb interiorly of itself and at a point above the said coupling-bead thereof and in position to iiex downwardly against the upwardly-facing annular sealing-seat of the said `container-unit; said airpressure bulb being constructed and arranged to be flexed inwardly in the direction of the axis of, and transverse to, said annular sealing-seat, whereby the entire annular extent of said sealing-lip is pressed more tightly against said annular sealing-seat;

2.` An atomizer including in combination: a

container having a contracted threaded neck at its upper end; a head-shell of substantially inverted cup-shaped form and including an annular skirt-portion and a top-wall; an attachingshell secured to and projecting downwardly from the top-wall of the said head-shell and threaded- 1y engaged with the contracted neck of the said container and housed within the space within the annular skirt of the said head-shell; and a flexible air-pressure bulb of substantially inverted cup-shaped form secured to ythe upper portion of the said head-shell and extending thereabove.

3. An atomizer including in combination: a container having a contracted threaded neck at its upper end; a head-shell of substantially inverted cup-shaped form and including an annular skirt-portion and a top-wall; an attachingshell secured -to and projecting downwardly from the top-wall of the said head-shell and threadedly engaged with the contracted neck of the said container and housed within the space within the annular skirt of the said head-shell; ar exible air-pressure bulb secured to the upper portion of the said head-shell and extending thereabove; and a nozzle-head carried by the rtop-wall of the said head-shell at a point above the contracted neck of the said container,

4. An atomizer including in combination: a container having a contracted threaded neck at its upper end; a head-shell of substantially inverted cup-shaped form and including an annular depending skirt-portion and a top-wall, the said head-shell being provided adjacent its upper end with an outwardly-opening annular coupling-groove and also having an upwardlyfacing annular sealing-seat located in a plane above the said coupling-groove; an attachingshell secured to and projecting downwardly from the top-wall of the said head-shell and threaded- 1y engaged with the contracted neck of the said container; a exible air-pressure bulb of substantially inverted cup-shaped form and having an inwardly-projecting coupling-bead adjacent its lower end and seated in the coupling-groove `of the said head-shell; and a flexible sealing-lip formed in the interior `of the said bulb at a point above the said coupling-bead thereof and in position to flex downwardly against the annular sealing-seat of the said head-shell,

5. An atomizer including in combination: a container; a head-shell of substantially inverted cup-shaped form mounted upon the upper portion of the said container and including an annular skirt-portion and a top-Wall, the said headshell being formed adjacent its upper end with an outwardly-opening annular coupling-groove and also having a portion of its said top-wall shaped to provide an annular sealing-seat located in a plane above the said coupling-groove; a exible air-pressure bulb of substantially inverted cup-shaped form and having an inwardly-projecting annular coupling-bead seated in the coupling-groove of said head-shell; and a flexible inwardly-projecting annular sealing-lip formed in the interior of the said bulb at a point above the said coupling-bead thereof and positioned to ex against the sealing-seat portion of the top-wall of the said head-shell; said airpressure bulb being constructed and arranged to be flexed inwardly in Ithe direction of the axis of, and transverse to, said annular sealing-seat, whereby the entire annular extent of said sealing-lip is pressed more tightly against said annular sealing-seat,

HOWARD F. REICHENBACH. 

